Out today: "When we’ve talked to conservatives who are against the death penalty or questioning it, the most common thing we’ll hear about is the risk of wrongful execution. The data backs it up. There is strong evidence that Texas has executed at least seven innocent people."
The Texas Observer
Pro-Life, Anti-Death Penalty
Nan Tolson is the face of the conservative movement against capital punishment in Texas.
 #DeathPenalty #Republicans #law #prison #ethics #abortion #religion #politics #USpol #news
From our magazine, Michelle Pitcher interviews Nan Tolson, a conservative opponent of the death penalty: "Every life has inherent dignity and worth, and that includes people on death row who have committed unspeakable acts."
The Texas Observer
Pro-Life, Anti-Death Penalty
Nan Tolson is the face of the conservative movement against capital punishment in Texas.
 #prison #DeathPenalty #religion #ethics #abortion #politics #USpol #news #Texas #activism #Republicans #law
Last week: “Are we rushing to do this? Is this going to be properly considered? How do we know if we’ve selected the right partner or if we’re just selling off our #schools?”
The Texas Observer
Houston's Top Magnet High Schools Could Become Private Partnership Charter Schools, Raising Equity Concerns
Texas' largest school district may even convert its renowned performing arts institution under a program that benefitted the state-appointed s...
 #Houston #politics #USpol #GulfCoast #education #news #Texas
Last week: "About 11.4 % (nearly 3.5M) of Texans will lose access to healthy, complete meals. I will no longer be able to buy meat or fresh vegetables. I will lose the only reliable way I have to eat lunch."
The Texas Observer
SNAP Shutdown Will Leave Texas Students like Me Hungry
I don’t know when this shutdown will end or when my benefits will be reinstated. But I do know we are worth more than the petty arguments of poli...
 #hunger #poverty #SNAP #food #Trump #politics #Texas #USpol #news
“The current system is failing #workers in that it’s too slow, especially with many Texans living paycheck to paycheck.” Our top story: Texas Workforce Commission is struggling to respond to a staggering number of wage-theft complaints.
The Texas Observer
Texas Can’t Keep Up with Surge in Workers’ Wage Theft Complaints
State labor investigators struggle to process more and more paycheck complaints, with millions of dollars in workers’ pay at stake.
 #news #politics #labor #Texas #USpol #poverty #work
“When people can’t get their #SNAP, they’re going to go to the #food banks. There isn’t enough food in the food pantries to handle this need. I mean, they’re all saying we’re going to run out of food. There’s no way we can replace everybody’s SNAP benefits.”
The Texas Observer
SNAP Shutdown Will Leave Texas Students like Me Hungry
I don’t know when this shutdown will end or when my benefits will be reinstated. But I do know we are worth more than the petty arguments of poli...
 #Texas #poverty #hunger #economy #politics #USpol #Trump
Introducing our November/December 2025 issue: "As this frankly awful year comes to a close, I hope having this magazine lying around will strike an appropriate note, as you celebrate holidays while temporarily avoiding or bravely facing the news as you like."
The Texas Observer
Editor's Letter: Introducing Our November/December 2025 Issue
A note from the editor-in-chief
 Cover by Ben Sargent. #journalism #media #Texas #news #politics #USpol #culture #books #bookstodon #nonprofit image
Out today: Feeding #Texas estimates that its 20 member banks have lost a total of $57.6 million in federal funding cuts, and that’s only in immediate canceled funding. But this could actually be on the low end of the potential impact range.
The Texas Observer
Trump’s Federal Cuts Are Hitting Texas Food Banks Hard
Food pantries in the Lone Star State have lost over $50 million in funding this year, with more projected cuts to come.
 #food #SNAP #Trump #poverty #Texas #politics #USpol #news
From @npub13uq8...vy6g: In February, the Texas Observer confirmed that James “Jim” Joseph Rodden—an #ICE assistant chief counsel in #Dallas—operates a white supremacist X account. Now, ICE refuses to tell us, or members of Congress, if he's still employed.
The Texas Observer
ICE Still Won't Answer Questions About Prosecutor with White Supremacist X Account
Congressman Marc Veasey arrived at an ICE facility Monday in his latest attempt to follow up on the Observer's reporting.
 #Texas #NorthTexas #immigration #law #fascism #genocide #WhiteSupremacy #politics #USpol #news
Texas #workers have long struggled with wage theft by their employers—and the state’s unwillingness to crack down on scofflaw employers. Now, rates of suspected wage theft are increasing and the state #labor law enforcement system is straining to keep up.
The Texas Observer
Texas Can’t Keep Up with Surge in Workers’ Wage Theft Complaints
State labor investigators struggle to process more and more paycheck complaints, with millions of dollars in workers’ pay at stake.
 #law #politics #USpol #Texas #news #HumanRights #economy